The compilers of this anthology of folk tunes set out to capture the complexities of family life in a dozen songs. It's no surprise that they haven't succeeded in that infeasible task, but Family Album is at minimum a nobl... more &raquoe failure and, at its best, revelatory. Familial relationships are explored from all angles, whether it be sibling to sibling (Loudon Wainwright III's "The Picture," Jim Infantino's "Somewhere over NYC"), parent to child (Andy Breckman's "How I Met Your Mother," Tom Chapin's remake of his brother Harry's hit, "Cat's in the Cradle"), or child to grandparent (Peter Gallway's "Up in the Country," Adie Grey's "Grandpa's Advice"). A couple of highlights to listen for: Tonio K's hard-eyed take on the circle of abuse, "Hey Lady," and Chip Taylor's warm ode to his "pisser" of a late mother, "Grandma's White LeBaron"). --Steven Stolder&laquo less

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The compilers of this anthology of folk tunes set out to capture the complexities of family life in a dozen songs. It's no surprise that they haven't succeeded in that infeasible task, but Family Album is at minimum a noble failure and, at its best, revelatory. Familial relationships are explored from all angles, whether it be sibling to sibling (Loudon Wainwright III's "The Picture," Jim Infantino's "Somewhere over NYC"), parent to child (Andy Breckman's "How I Met Your Mother," Tom Chapin's remake of his brother Harry's hit, "Cat's in the Cradle"), or child to grandparent (Peter Gallway's "Up in the Country," Adie Grey's "Grandpa's Advice"). A couple of highlights to listen for: Tonio K's hard-eyed take on the circle of abuse, "Hey Lady," and Chip Taylor's warm ode to his "pisser" of a late mother, "Grandma's White LeBaron"). --Steven Stolder